Submitted by D. A. Anthony, Aug 6, 2007 13:22

Kevin, I appreciate your thoughts regarding my post to the New York Sun, but I must inquire about your comment that, "...it (the Confederate flag) has been misused by segregationists, Klansmen and other bigoted groups."

I am sure at some point you have heard the arguments that the only flag which is required to be present at Klan rallies is the United States flag. I have numerous photographs taken by the media over the years of Klan rallies and parades that depict only the U.S. flag without a Confederate flag anywhere in site. If the Klan is required to display the U.S. flag at its various meetings, why is it only the Confederate flag that has been besmirched by its association with the Klan, whereas the U.S. flag gets off scot-free?

You are also aware that one of the most recognizable symbols associated with the Klan is the cross of Jesus Christ. In spite of the link between the Klan and the Christian cross, no one seems to be offended by the displays of Christian crosses in any churches, cemeteries, etc. Why is that? Because everyone knows that the Klan adopted the Christian cross and the U.S. flag without the permission of either Christians, the Federal government, or American citizenry. Why is it then that only the Confederate flag has been held up as a symbol of racism when certainly it is not used with the consent of the United Confederate Veterans, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, descendents of Confederate veterans, or any other organization that represents Confederate heritage and history? In fact, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, of which I am a member, has actively opposed the misuse of the Confederate flag by "hate" groups, and considers Klan misuse of the Confederate flag to be an affront to our Confederate ancestors who served honorably and sacrificed to make the Confederate flag a symbol of honor for the South and for their descendants.

Kevin, as a historian, you know as well as I that the U.S. flag flew over slavery in the United States from 1776 until slavery was Constitutionally outlawed by ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution in 1866 -- some eight months following the end of hostilities. That is a period of 90 years in which slavery was legal in the United States, whereas the Confederacy existed only from 1861 to 1865 -- 4 years. Even during the War Between The States, the so-called "slave states" of Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, and the Union-occupied areas of Tennessee and Louisiana continued to practice slavery, even though you claim that abolition of slavery was one of the primary causes of the War. Need I point out that African slavery was also practiced in the Western Hemisphere under the flags of England, Spain, France, Denmark, Portugal, and other European nations, but none of those flags are condemned for their association with the institution of slavery the way the Confederate flag is.

Certainly, Kevin, you are familiar with the Corwin Amendment to which I alluded in my original post which was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1860 and supported by President Lincoln which would have become the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and would have protected the institution of slavery "in perpetuity" had it been ratified by the States. In fact, in President Lincoln's first inaugural address, he stated:

I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so,and I have no inclination to do so.

I am certain that you have also read President Lincoln's own words regarding the cause of the War:

My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.

It is also a well-known historical fact that Abraham Lincoln would be considered a racist by today's standards. It was originally his intent to provide Federal compensation to American slaveholders to induce them to free their slaves so they could be deported out of the United States; however, Congress refused to provide the authorization for this. In the September 18, 1858, debate with Senator Stephen Douglas, Lincoln stated:

I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races — that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races from living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.

When asked what should be done if the slaves were ever freed, Lincoln's initial response was to suggest sending them all back to Africa:

Send them to Liberia, to their own native land. But free them and make them politically and socially our equals? My own feelings will not admit this.

If you still are unconvinced that the institution of slavery had only a minor role in the War Between The States, let me remind you of a comment by the Supreme Commander of the United States Army, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, when it was suggested to him that the primary cause of the War was slavery:

The sole object of this war is to restore the union. Should I become convinced it has any other object, or that the Government designs using its soldiers to execute the wishes of the Abolitionists, I pledge you my honor as a man and a soldier I would resign my commission and carry my sword to the other side.

Does this infer to you that the Supreme Commander had no idea what his army was fighting for, or does it mean that it was very clear to Gen. Grant that the abolition of slavery was not the reason for the War?

Incidentally, Gen. Grant's wife Lydia owned several house slaves until early 1866 -- nearly a year after the surrender of all Confederate armed forces. She was forced to free them by the Thirteenth Amendment. Upon being forced to emancipate his wife's slaves after the War, Gen. Grant considered it to be a shame because "good help is so hard to find."

Kevin, I would be very happy to discuss any of this with you further, and provide you with photos of the U.S. flag waving proudly at Klan rallies. You know my e-mail address, and I will be happy to correspond with you directly.

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